Extreme longevity indicators and criteria to identify a Blue Zone

Using French data available in the Human Mortality Database since 1816, the main indicators proposed to measure the importance of centenarians or longevity in a country or region are calculated and compared in this study. These include the prevalence of centenarians per 100,000 inhabitants, the Extreme Longevity Indicator (ELI) and the Centenarian Rate (CR60 or CR70), for example. These indicators are first compared according to whether they are measured longitudinally, within birth cohorts, or transversally, for a given year. This first part of the study highlights the advantages and disadvantages (which can be significant) of each approach. They are then used to characterize the blue zone (BZ) of the Antilles by attempting to date its appearance, development, and possible disappearance (study in progress).